The Christian doctrine of total depravity teaches a simple but profound truth: because of humanity's original sin (the fall), every part of us—our mind, our will, our emotions, and even our body—has been affected by sin. Sin has corrupted our very nature.
This means we are spiritually “dead,” trapped by sin, and completely unable to choose or seek God on our own.
It's important to understand what “total” means here:
- It's about the extent of sin. Sin has tainted every part of us, like a drop of poison that contaminates an entire glass of water.
- It is not about the degree of sin. It doesn't mean we are as evil as we could possibly be. People can still do things that are kind or morally good from a human perspective.
At its core, total depravity means we are powerless to save ourselves or even take the first step toward God without His divine intervention. This doctrine is foundational because it shows that salvation is not a team effort between us and God; it is a rescue mission performed by God for us.
The Case for Total Depravity
This idea can be understood by following a logical progression based on what the Bible teaches.
1. Where did humanity start, and what went wrong?
God originally created humans “good” and in His own image. But when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God (the fall), sin entered the world, damaging our nature and cutting us off from our Creator.
- Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
- Genesis 3:6-7: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food... she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened...”
- Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
The bottom line: Sin wasn't just a small mistake; it was a fundamental change to our core being that biased us toward evil instead of good.
2. How deep does the corruption of sin go?
The Bible describes sin as a deep-seated problem that affects every aspect of who we are, leaving us spiritually dead and unable to live righteously.
- Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
- Romans 3:10-12: “...'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.'”
- Ephesians 2:1-3: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins... and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
The bottom line: If our hearts (desires), minds (understanding), and actions are all corrupted by sin, then the problem is total. Scripture says “no one seeks for God,” which shows we can't find Him on our own.
3. Can we choose to seek God on our own?
No. Because we are enslaved to sin and spiritually “dead,” we are unable to initiate a relationship with God. Our natural inclination is to turn away from Him, not toward Him.
- John 6:44: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”
- Romans 8:7-8: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them...”
The bottom line: If our natural minds are “hostile to God” and cannot understand spiritual truth, then God has to make the first move. This is why faith is described as a gift, not a human accomplishment.
4. What does this mean for our salvation?
Total depravity makes it clear that salvation must be 100% a work of God's grace. We contribute nothing to our salvation except the sin that made it necessary. God doesn't just help us; He does it all.
- Titus 3:5: “...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy...”
- Ezekiel 36:26: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
- Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
The bottom line: If we have a “heart of stone” that cannot believe, God must give us a “heart of flesh” before we can have faith. He performs spiritual heart surgery on us. This ensures that salvation is God's work alone, and He gets all the glory.
Answering Common Objections
Objection 1: “But people do good things all the time! This idea seems too negative.”
This misunderstands the meaning of “total.”
- Total depravity doesn't mean people are incapable of doing things that are seen as good by society (like charity or kindness). This is because of God's common grace, where He restrains evil in the world to keep society from completely falling apart.
- However, it does mean that apart from faith in Christ, none of these actions are spiritually good or pleasing to God (Romans 14:23). Our motives are always tainted by sin.
Objection 2: “If we can't help but sin, doesn't that make God responsible for it?”
No, this confuses our inability with God's authorship.
- Humans are responsible because we sin willingly, according to our sinful nature. God doesn't force us to sin; we do it because it's what we want (James 1:13-14).
- God is completely sovereign, but we are still held accountable for our choices. The Bible holds these two truths together. For example, God planned Jesus's crucifixion, but the people who carried it out did so with “wicked hands” and were responsible for their actions (Acts 2:23).
Objection 3: “Why would God command us to repent and believe if we're unable to do it?”
God's commands serve a crucial purpose: they act like a mirror, showing us our sinfulness and inability to save ourselves.
- The law reveals our spiritual bankruptcy and shows us how much we need a Savior (Romans 3:20).
- The command to repent isn't an expectation that we can do it on our own; it's the very message God uses, through the power of His Spirit, to awaken a dead heart. It shows us that salvation is impossible for us, but “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Objection 4: “But the Bible says we should seek God. How can that be if no one is able to?”
This is a great question that highlights the difference between God's original design for humanity and our current condition after sin entered the world.
- In Acts 17:27, Paul says God arranged the world so that people “should seek God.” This describes our purpose, like a compass that is designed to point north. But what happens when that compass is broken? Sin has shattered our internal, spiritual compass.
- Because our nature is now broken, the Bible gives a clear diagnosis of our actual condition. Romans 3:11 states definitively, “no one seeks for God.” Psalm 10:4 explains why: “In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him.” Our pride and sin make us unable and unwilling to point ourselves toward God, even though that's what we were created to do.
So, how does anyone ever begin to seek Him? Think of it like a rescue mission for a hiker who has fallen unconscious in a deep valley. That hiker cannot seek the rescuers. The rescue team must find them first. God is the rescuer. He must come to us while we are spiritually unconscious and begin the work of reviving our hearts.
The bottom line: Our first prayer, our first question about God, or our first desire to seek Him is not us starting the rescue. It’s the first sign that God’s rescue is already underway. Seeking God isn't the cause of our new spiritual life; it is the first beautiful symptom of it.
Why This Doctrine Matters
Total depravity isn't meant to be a discouraging doctrine. Instead, it's a truth that sets the stage for the incredible news of the gospel.
It Leads to Humility: It demolishes our pride. We realize we can't take any credit for our salvation, as it is a pure gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
It Gives Real Assurance: Our salvation doesn't depend on our wavering ability to hold on to God, but on His unbreakable power to hold on to us. He started the work, and He will finish it (Philippians 1:6).
It Inspires True Worship: Understanding our helplessness makes God's grace seem even more amazing. It leads us to praise and thank Him for His incredible mercy in saving sinners who could do nothing to save themselves (Romans 5:8).
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~ john